Pradnya Satav is welcome to join BJP, says Bawankule

Patil said he had spoken to Pradnya Satav in the morning. ”However, this topic that she is likely to join BJP did not come up. We discussed about the civic elections,” said Patil.

The Congress leadership from Delhi had been trying to contact Pradnya Satav since morning. ”However, she has remained out of bound,” said a Congress leader.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra revenue minister and BJP leader Chandrakant Bawankule said, ”I am not aware that Pradnya Satav will leave the party. But if we are welcome if anyone is willing to join the BJP. The Congress is facing of lack of communication…party workers are helpess and fear for their future. I have not had any discussion with Pradnya Satav.”

Rajiv Satav, known for his proximity to the Gandhi family, was elected as Lok Sabha MP in 2014 even during the Modi wave. Later, in 2019, he became a Rajya Sabha MP. He was later given the charge of Gujarat assembly elections in 2017.

Pradnya Satav was made the MLC by the Congress in 2021 after the death of her husband Rajiv during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Congress then nominated Pradnya Satav to the Maharashtra Legislative Council to fill the vacancy created by the death of party leader Sharad Ranpise from Pune. She was elected unopposed in the by-election. The Congress again made her the MCL in 2024.

Congress leaders however said if Satav leaves, it will not have much of an impact on the party’s prospects in the civic elections. ”She had been inactive and was not a known face. We don’t believe her leaving the party will have an impact on our prospects,” said a party leader.